jon: catherine herridge with some sobering stuff there, thanks. >> or you're welcome. jenna: well, the controversy sure to be a hot topic in tonight's debate, but several other key issues are also importantful we have the nuclear standoff with iran, we have the war in afghanistan and, of course, china's economic policies as well. joining us now, michael hanlon, brookings institution's senior fellow and co-author of "bending history," a book that was published during the president's first term, of course. michael, great to have you back with us. >> nice to be with you, jenna. jenna: we know both candidates are going to have their agendas for tonight, and we have to ask what the agenda should be for the american people. what do you think is the single most important issue we should hear about tonight from either candidate? >> well, i do think you're right to mention iran. certainly, how we handle that nuclear crisis -- which, as you know, has been developing over a number of years, so maybe it should call it a crisis -- how we handle that in the next one to two years cou